Assembly approves $55,160 grant agreement with UAS Ketchikan for pilot workforce programs

The Ketchikan Gateway Borough Assembly voted June 16 to direct staff to enter a grant agreement with the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) Ketchikan campus for a FY2026 workforce development pilot program, approving the universityrequest after UAS reduced its original $100,000 request to $55,160.

William Urquhart, UAS Ketchikan campus director, and Sofia Mullins, workforce development director, told the Assembly they had scaled the proposal in response to earlier feedback. The revised package seeks borough support for a narrowed set of activities: a single certified nursing assistant (CNA) dual-enrollment class for high-school students (reduced from two classes), a Coast Guard-approved five-day basic maritime training class for students (TWIC, medical certificate and merchant mariner credential prerequisites apply; class size limited to 12 by U.S. Coast Guard rules) and an initial offering of AWS (American Welding Society) qualification examinations for community and adult learners.

Urquhart said the program team had already secured outside funding and industry contacts and that the goal of the borough contribution was to demonstrate community demand and sustain the pilot into a second year with private and state funding if successful. Mullins described logistics for the maritime basic training: high-school students would need to be 18 at the time of the class, the program covers personal survival techniques, firefighting, first aid and CPR and uses local pool and training resources; the course would be scheduled during spring break to accommodate students and would be limited to 12 participants.

Acting Vice Mayor Palmer noted the assembly had reduced the original ask and said she supported using existing community grant funds for the pilot. Palmer said the borough would use $47,995 from remaining community grants program funds and $7,165 from the general fund to cover the $55,160 total.

Assemblymember Bowling disclosed she works for UAS Ketchikan but the clerk ruled she had no financial conflict and permitted her to participate. The Assembly approved the direction to staff by roll call (6 yes, 0 no, 1 absent). The Assembly asked that UAS coordinate with local employers and the school district on recruitment and scheduling and recommended a follow-up report documenting outcomes and participation if the pilot proceeds.

Clarifying details provided during the presentation included the reduced CNA request (one class rather than two), the maritime basic-training age and size limits, AWS examination costs and a possible second-year strategy to apply for Alaska Department of Labor STEP funds to subsidize testing for eligible unemployed adults.

Votes at a glance

- Direction to enter a grant agreement with UAS Ketchikan for FY2026 workforce development pilot (total $55,160): moved as pending motion on unfinished business; outcome: approved on roll call.